(Clearwisdom.net) April 25th is a special day. Four years ago on this day, more than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners went to the National Appeals Office in Beijing to appeal and request the government to give them a legal and free Falun Dafa practicing environment. Later, the police directed them to stand near Zhongnanhai -- the Chinese central government compound. It was called the "April 25th Zhongnanhai Appeal" or the "April 25th Incident."
Soon, Jiang Zemin used this appeal as an excuse to begin large-scale arrests of and persecution against Falun Gong practitioners. Up until now, although some people disagree with Falun Gong practitioners' action of a group appeal, time has proven that the "April 25th Incident" has great significance. From a certain perspective, it started a new era, an era where a large group of common people would publicly demand their basic rights and dignity when faced with brutal persecution by a cruel, totalitarian power. It marks an era when the people ask for a life of dignity and nobility.
After a long time of autocratic rule, people's awareness of independence was severely devastated. Although since ancient times we have had brave people who spoke up, risked their lives in protest, or sacrificed their lives for their beliefs, those people are in the minority and large segments of people seem used to submit to humiliation and remain indifferent. They move with the great tide and know only to protect themselves and their own interest. These people often think no one should expose or stop slander and massacre, no matter how unjust they are. They think, especially regarding things related to the government, people should not express any dissent or they would be considered to be engaging in politics. They can even create beautiful excuses, such as tolerance, stability and patriotism, to deceive themselves. In their hearts, they have long forgotten the rights we as human beings have, forgotten the dignity and nobility that we as human beings naturally possess.
In fact, unprincipled concession to injustice is being irresponsible toward oneself as well as toward others and our nation. Looking at Chinese history, the reason why many government officials and police officers dare to abuse their power and treat human life "like dust" is undoubtedly due in part to our indiscriminate tolerance and self-abandon. If we don't even care about our most basic rights and don't want our dignity, why would others care about our rights and dignity?
Prior to 1999, Falun Gong was under systematic attacks and slanders from the government media, encountering deliberate harassment and suppression from police departments. The reputation of the founder of Falun Gong and that of Falun Gong practitioners' was seriously slandered. According to the prevailing way of thinking, maybe they should not care at all and keep silent. But if they did that, people's spiritual pursuit of "Truth-Compassion-Tolerance" would be destroyed and their most basic rights and dignity would automatically become null and void, and appear even more unworthy than they were before.
Falun Gong practitioners courageously stepped forward; they stood up with the kind of dignity that is natural to a human being, full of righteousness. In a society that was ruled under totalitarian power for thousands of years, at a time when morality is corrupt and low, in a country where the political atmosphere is cold and cruel, this courage and righteousness seem extraordinarily great and admirable.
More remarkable is this large-scale civil appeal from common people. It shows a lofty spiritual realm that is greatly admired by human beings. Throughout the history of China and the world, people shout loud slogans during parades, and it is normal for them to vent their anger this way. It is possible that these people burn and destroy things and others' property, and inflict harm upon others. Even many well-known peaceful protests in the world sometimes had chaotic scenes. However, during the April 25th Appeal, Falun Gong practitioners were amiable and auspicious, they were in a neat order. They expressed their wishes in a compassionate and rational manner. Their kindness moved people around them, including the police. When they left, they cleaned the area around them and picked up even the smallest pieces of paper on the ground. This is an unprecedented large-scale peaceful and rational appeal by the people; it can be called a model for the people of the world.
When we witness Falun Gong practitioners' perseverance, their fortitude and courage displayed during the past four years of brutal persecution; when we re-examine the Falun Gong practitioners' safeguarding "Truth-Compassion-Tolerance" and safeguarding human conscience with the cost of their lives, what else can we do other than pay silent homage? When we look back at the path of human civilization, when we look into the remote future, we will be able to see more clearly the historic significance of the April 25th Great Peaceful Appeal. This is the starting point of people's arduous and peaceful resistance to obtain human dignity and nobility. This resistance based on the spirit of great tolerance and selflessness is continuing.
The earlier footstep of the brave inspires the latecomers. I hope all of us can step forward to safeguard our own basic rights and dignity, and live with dignity and nobility. History has proven that violence cannot destroy faith, and totalitarian power can never suppress the Truth. Any dictator exists for only a fleeting moment. In the future, when we look back at history, we will see the April 25 Great Appeal radiating a forever-indelible brilliance.
April 23, 2003
